Floor surfacing machine



July 3, 1956 E. BALLARD 2,75

FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2 [aw/v L. 541.4420 INVENTOR I I 1 BY 1 1 1 I v ATTORNEYS July 3, 1956 BALLARD 2,752,736

FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE Filed. Dec. 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f'fiW/A 4.5411 4/Qfi INVENTOR BY I I I I ATTORNEYS.

Juiy 3, 1956 E. 1... BALLARD FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

27140 A. FALL/7RD INVENTOR ATTORNEYS FLOOR SURFACENG MACHINE Edwin L. Ballard, Lansing, Mich.

Application December 22, 1953, Serial No. 399,727

1 Claim. (Cl. 51-176) This invention relates to floor sanding or floor surfacing machines, and aims to improve generally the construction of the floor surfacing machine shown in my Patent No. 2,323,082, dated June 29, 1943.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for permitting a quick adjustment of the sanding drum with respect to the floor being sanded, means being provided for urging the sanding drum towards the floor surface to insure the desired pressure being directed to the sanding machine, for a particular work.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the sanding drum may be accurately leveled on the floor surface, to insure an even and accurate sanding of the floor surface.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for removably securing the ends of the sanding paper stretched around the sanding drum of the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sanding machine, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1t910 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the adjusting member for adjusting the movable frame of the machine with respect to the supporting frame.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 1313 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14-1 4 of Fig.2.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 1515 of Fig. 14.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the main or supporting frame of the machine is indicated generally by the reference character 5 and embodies a forwardly extended curved arm 6, at the rear end of which is the nited States Patent C bearing housing 7. At the forward end of the arm 6 is a bearing indicated by the reference character 8, in which the shaft 9 is mounted, the shaft 9 providing a support for the wheels 10 which support the forward end of the main frame 5, as clearly shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings. The body portion or housing of the machine includes the side walls 11 and top 12, the side walls 11 having vertical elongated openings 13, through which the ends of the shaft 9 extend, securing the shaft 9 to the main housing in such a way that the housing may move vertically with respect to the main supporting frame and wheels 10.

The ends of the shaft 9 extend into the housings 15 that are secured to the side walls of the frame exteriorly of the frame. The housings 15 have elongated openings 16 that align with the elongated openings 13 of the side walls of the frame, as better shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, and receive the ends of the shaft 9. Disposed within each of the housings 15, is a coiled spring 17 that is urged upwardly by the tap screw 18, the upper ends of the springs 17 resting against the shaft 9. Set screws 19 extend through threaded openings in the upper ends of the housings 15 and move into engagement with the ends of the shaft 9 that extend into the housings. Due to this construction, it will be seen that by rotating the set screws 19, the axles may be adjusted vertically to regulate the position of operation of the wheels 10, with the result that the main frame of the machine may be adjusted to regulate the operation of the sanding drum.

Operating within the body portion or housing of the machine is a suction fan 20, the suction fan being secured to the inner end of the fan shaft 21 which operates in bearings 22 supported within the tube 23, which is secured to one of the side walls 11 of the housing. Communicating with the suction fan housing, which is indicated by the reference character 24, is an exhaust pipe 25, the upper end of which is formed with a laterally extended annular flange 26 that cooperates with the outwardly extended annular flange 27 formed on one end of the curved pipe 28, in providing a swivel connection for the dust pipe 28. The dust bag is indicated by the reference character 29 and is removably secured to one end of the pipe 28, as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The bearing housing 7 accommodates bearings 30, in which bearings the shaft 31 of the caster 32 operates.

Secured on the upper surface of the bearing housing 7 is a block 33 which has a cavity in its upper surface, in which the head 34 of the spacing bolt 35 is disposed for pivotal movement, the head of the bolt being rounded for unrestricted movement within the cavity. The opposite end of the rod 35 extends into the tubular member 36, there being provided a coiled spring 37 encircling the major portion of said rod 35, one end of the spring 37 contacting one end of member 36 biasing the member 36 upwardly. Disposed transversely of the upper end of said tubular member 36, is a pin 38 which is of a length to extend beyond the side of said tubular member 36, the extensions of the pin being engageable within the downwardly inclined slots 39 formed in the side walls 40 of the channel member 41 which constitutes the keep er for the pin of the tubular member 36.

It will be seen that since the slots 39 are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other throughout the lengths of the side walls 40 of the keeper plate, the pin 38 may be movedto various positions of adjustment with respect to the keeper plate. A pivoted locking arm 42 is also connected with the pin 38 and is of channel shape to swing over the tubular member 36 and a portion of the rod 35, as shown by Fig. 10.

The channel member 41 is secured to the handle 43, that in turn, is secured to the rear of the sanding drum frame, as by means of the screw 44, to the end that yieldable movement between the main frame of the machine and pivoted housing is permitted as the machine is moved over irregularities of the floor surface being sanded.

The reference character 45 indicates a control rod that has its lower end connected to the bearing housing 7, at 46, the opposite end of the control rod being pivotally connected with the lever 47 which in turn has a pivotal connection with the handle 43, at 48. Thus it will be seen that by operating the lever 47 the sanding drum housing may be adjusted or tilted with respect to the main frame of the machine to elevate the sanding drum out of contact with the floor surface.

The sanding drum is indicated by the reference character 49 and operates adjacent to the forward corner of the substantially triangular sanding drum housing, with a portion of the sanding drum 49 projecting through an opening formed in the bottom of the sanding drum housmg.

Mounted on the body portion or housing, is a motor 50 having a pulley 51, over which the belt 32 operates, the belt also operating over the pulley 53 secured to one end of the shaft 54 on which said sanding drum 49 operates. The fan pulley 55 is also mounted within the body portion or housing and the belt 52 operates over this pulley 55, the pulley 55 providing means for operating the fan secured on one end of the fan shaft 21.

The exhaust pipe is held in place by the split collar 56 which is formed with curved grooves to fit over the annular flanges 26 and 27, as shown by Fig. 14 of the drawings.

The collar 56 is connected with the arm 57 that is bolted to the handle 43.

An opening is formed in the split collar 56 and accommodates the bolt 58 on which the nut 59 is secured, there being provided a coiled spring 60 on the bolt between the collar and nut 59, normally holding the plate within the opening of the split collar.

A head 61 is formed on the bolt 58, the head having a beveled end adapted to fit in the groove 62 of the split collar, so that the bolt will be held against rotation, under normal conditions. A head 61 is formed with a transverse opening in which one end of the rod 63 is held, the rod extending rearwardly towards the handle.

The free end of the rod is formed into an open loop 64, in which open loop the electric connecting cord 65 is held, so that the cord will be supported in such a way that it will not become tangled during the operation of the machine.

In order to protect the operator against injury by the rotating belt 52, a guard 66 is provided, the guard being shaped to conform to the shape of the side of the body portion or housing.

The sanding drum 49 is of novel construction, and is provided with a slot 67 extending transversely thereof, through which the ends 68 of the strip of sanding paper 69 extends when stretched over the drum.

Mounted within the sanding drum 49 and disposed transversely thereof, are shafts 70, on which cam rollers 71 are secured, the cam rollers being so disposed that they will clamp the ends 68 of the sanding paper therebetween, securing the sanding paper tightly on the sanding drum.

The shaft of each of the rollers is provided with a squared head 72 for effecting rotation of the rollers 71 secured thereon, to grip the ends 68 of the sanding paper and hold them against displacement.

A spring 73 is secured within the sanding drum 49 by means of the screw 74, the spring contacting with shaft 70 of roller 71 on which the head 72 is secured, forcing the roller 71 connected with the shaft having the head 72, longitudinally of the elongated bearing opening 75, to maintain the rollers in clamped relation with the ends of the sanding paper 69.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided. means whereby the body portion or housing in which the sanding drum is mounted may be readily tilted forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the main frame of the machine, to either elevate the sanding drum above the surface being sanded, or the sanding drum may be moved into engagement with the sanding surface, the tension of the spring 37 regulating the sanding operation. It will also be seen that due to the construction of the bearing support for the shaft 9, the initial position of the sanding drum may be regulated so that the drum may be accurately leveled on the floor surface to insure an even sanding of the floor surface.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a floor sanding machine, a Wheel-supported main frame, a sanding drum housing pivotally mounted on the main frame for vertical tilting movement, a sanding drum mounted in said housing, said drum projecting through an opening in the bottom of said sanding drum housing, a sanding strip carried by said drum, clamping cam-shaped rollers within said drum, said drum having opposite ends each formed with a slot perpendicular to the strip ends, each formed with a slot in one end extending opposite from the slot in the opposite end, each roller including a headed stud extending loosely through said slot, a bowed opening carried by the inner side of each end yieldably engaging said stud, a handle extending upwardly and rearwardly from said sanding drum housing, a channelshaped keeper secured to said handle, said keeper having spaced downwardly inclined slots formed therein, adjustable connecting means between the handle and main frame comprising a bolt having a semispherical head engaging said main frame at a point rearwardly of the pivot point between said main frame and housing, said main frame having a semi-spherical socket in which said semi-spherical head rockably engages, a tubular member into which one end of said bolt extends, a coiled spring mounted on said bolt in contact with one end of said tubular member biasing said tubular member towards the keeper, a transversely disposed pin extending through said tubular member, the ends of said pin extending beyond the side of said tubular member, the ends of said pin adapted to rest in selected slots of said keeper urging the rear end of said sanding drum housing upwardly, biasing the sanding drum into contact with the floor surface being sanded, and power driven means for rotating said sanding drum and said sanding strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,467 Uppercue Jan. 28, 1913 1,126,615 Cavicchi Ian. 26, 1915 1,879,083 Casper Sept. 27, 1932 1,914,280 Myers June 13, 1933 2,118,818 Okun May 31, 1938 2,290,596 Kirchner July 21, 1942 2,323,082 Ballard June 29, 1943 2,437,958 Holt Mar. 16, 1948 2,508,452 Dwyer May 23, 1950 

